We Wear the Mask

Which of the following is an example of personification?

• "We wear the mask that grins and lies"
• "This debt we pay to human guile"
• "With torn and bleeding hearts we smile"
• "Nay, let them only see us while we/Wear the mask"

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which choice best represents the central idea of the poem?

• It's important to hide our emotions from the world
• It's important to know more than other people
• Our faces do not always show our real emotions
• Everybody wears some kind of mask

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Why is it important that the mask "hides cheeks and shades eyes" instead of nose, teeth, ears, etc?

• They are randomly chosen by the author
• These parts of the face are vital for making expressions of emotion
• Those are his favorite parts
• Those are the only parts that maska cover

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Why is it important that the mask "hides cheeks and shades eyes" instead of nose, teeth, ears, etc?

• They are randomly chosen by the author
• These parts of the face are vital for making expressions of emotion
• Those are his favorite parts
• Those are the only parts that maska cover

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

The mask that the author describes is an example of

• onomatopoiea

• alliteration

• symbolism

• simile

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

Directions: Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.

Paul Laurence Dunbar – “We Wear the Mask”

We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,--

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,

And mouth with countless subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us, while

We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries

To thee from tortured souls arise.

We sing, but oh the ground is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,

We wear the mask!

#5 What is the mood of this poem?

• Agony

• Happiness

• Anger

• Peace

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What is the impact of the author’s word choice on tone? (RL.2.4)

• The author’s word choice creates a bitter and cruel tone.

• The author’s word choice creates a sarcastic tone.

• The author’s word choice creates an optimistic tone.

• The author’s word choice creates a tortured and agonizing tone.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

How is emphasis created in line 4? (RL.2.5)

"With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,"

• Through the use of alliteration.

• Through the use of imagery.

• Through the use of repetition.

• Through the use of comparisons.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

What effect does the repetition of the phrase “We wear the mask” at the beginning of the poem and the end of each stanza have on the poem’s meaning? (RL.2.5)

• It develops the theme, “Continuous behavior will become habits that create resilience.”

• It develops the theme, “Presentation is more important than reality.”

• It develops the theme, “It is painful to falsely display smiles and happiness to others.”

• It develops the theme, “When the world seems happy, all will go well.”

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which is an example of hyperbole?

• "With torn and bleeding hearts we smile"
• "Why should the world be overwise"
• "We sing, but oh the clay is vile"
• "But let the world dream otherwise"

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10